This simple tutorial shows how to install the latest Sigil epub editor and keep it up-to-date in Ubuntu Linux via Flatpak package.

Since Sigil package in Ubuntu repositories is always old and no PPA now maintains the most recent packages, the Flatpak now can be the only easy way to get the epub editor in Debian/Ubuntu based Linux.

Flatpak:

As you know, Microsoft Windows usually uses EXE file for package installer. For Linux, the package format is divided. There are DEB for Debian/Ubuntu, RPM for Fedora/RedHat, and more other formats.

And, installing both DEB and RPM may require other packages to be installed as dependencies. The developments of modern apps are more rapidly than system default libraries, so it causes unmet dependency problems.

To workaround the issues, the Flatpak, Snap and Appimage were born. They bundle the most required libraries, and run in most Linux as universal packages.

The only downside can be the large disk space usage due to dependency bundle and shared run-time library.

Install Sigil in Ubuntu Linux as Flatpak:

Sigil Flatpak package was made a month ago. With it, most Linux user may install and keep the Sigil package update-to-date. And, the steps below shows how to install it in Ubuntu.

1.) Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, run command to install the daemon:

sudo apt install flatpak

The old Ubuntu 18.04 and even 16.04 are even possible to get it by adding this Ubuntu PPA.

2.) Next, install Sigil as Flatpak via command:

flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/com.sigil_ebook.Sigil.flatpakref

Once installed, search for and open it from overview screen (or start menu).

NOTE: Sigil Flatpak package updates automatically, but it won’t replace the old DEB package (if any). You may have duplicated app icons if the DEB package installed, remove either one that you do not use.

How to Remove Sigil in Ubuntu:

To remove the ebook editor installed via either apt or Ubuntu Software, open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove sigil sigil-data

To remove the Flatpak package, use command:

flatpak uninstall com.sigil_ebook.Sigil

And remove the unused run-time libraries via flatpak uninstall --unused